Monday, May 16, 2011
** Family of Michigan girl molested by EMT awarded millions in damages

** Illinois paramedic credited with saving baby’s life after near drowning

UNITED STATES NEWS

** The family of a Michigan girl, molested during a 2006 ambulance ride in which she was restrained, have been awarded $12.5 million in damages. That is the word from the Associated Press (May 12) which said while a jury found offending attendant Matt DeFillippo 70 per cent responsible for the attack, it also tagged 30 per cent of the blame on the ambulance service itself. According to the newspaper, DeFillippo, 35, of St. Clair Shores, was originally sentenced to 15 years in jail for third and fourth degree criminal assault, but was paroled in 2009. Ambulance service defence lawyer Summer Heil, meanwhile, disputed the judgment against her clients, saying EMS managers at the company were the ones who turned DeFillippo into the police.

** Kudos are being given to an off duty Addison, Illinois paramedic/firefighter, after he helped revive an infant who had fallen into the Fox River last Tuesday. The Daily Herald (Paul Biasco/May 11) said Joel Arnier, 53, was fishing on the lake when he heard a woman scream and rush into the water some 15 feet from shore. Seeing her retrieve the lifeless body of a 15-month-old infant, Arnier rushed over to begin resuscitation efforts. Though the child was completely blue in color and pulseless, his CPR efforts did manage to revive her. She was transported to hospital shortly after. Police continue to investigate.